Responsibility 5: Fulfilling the Rights of the Imam

Another responsibility of the Shi’a, is to fulfill the rights which the Imam has over us.

Without doubt, the most important right which we owe to others starts with those which we owe to Allah, followed by the Messenger of Allah and then the rights which we must fulfill to our Imam. Obviously, the rights which our Imam demands from us must be carried out in the most perfect way.

In regards to this responsibility, there are numerous traditions which have been mentioned. Since it is not possible to narrate all of them, we suffice with one tradition from the Infallibles which states:

مَا كَانَ لِلٌّهِ تَعَالـى مِنْ حَقٍّ فَهُوَ لَنَا

“Any right or privilege which belongs to Allah, the Most High, is also a privilege that belongs to us (the Ahlul Bayt).”1